Hide/Silent vs Spot, Listen and search?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 1:02 pm

Rein,
I didn't know that either. How does that effect elves who are always in a passive detect mode (and can't even turn it on or off)?

Vergilius · Post by **Vergilius** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 3:55 pm

Anonymous wrote:Rein,
I didn't know that either. How does that effect elves who are always in a passive detect mode (and can't even turn it on or off)?

spot is always versus hide, listen always vs mv sil. What detect mode means is that you are going from just casually walking around, maybe paying attention and maybe not to actively looking around to the best of your ability, to full alert.

It is my understanding that the way the NWN engine is coded: outside of detect mode, you make spot/listen/search at half of your modifier. Entering detect mode allows you the full modifier from the three aforementioned skills.

Fire Monkey · Post by **Fire Monkey** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 12:14 pm

Seems to be some confusion here Verg you say it is Hide-Spot and MS-Listen as I always thought, but Reinstag says search is also used sometimes.

Jordicus · Post by **Jordicus** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 1:38 pm

i don't believe so. Search is only used for traps and hidden doors/object never creatures/PCs. that's from both the NWN manual and PHB

PHB page 73 wrote:The SPOT skill lets you notice something such as a hiding rogue. The SEARCH skill lets a character discern some small detail or irregularity through active effort.

and as another person stated, Elves and a few other races have the Keen Senses Feat which means SEARCH is always active and they are always in Detect Mode.. If the above was true, then characters of those races would never be able to use their SPOT skill.

AFAIK, the only difference with Detect Mode is that both your SEARCH and SPOT checks are being made more often and the range is increased from 5 ft to 10 ft

Fire Monkey · Post by **Fire Monkey** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 2:04 pm

Jordicus,
That is what I thought. Also as far as I know the passive search that elves use works permamently on a reduced range of 5ft rather than the 10ft that it is for everone else who has to use detect.

Vergilius · Post by **Vergilius** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 3:00 pm

Jordicus wrote:
AFAIK, the only difference with Detect Mode is that both your SEARCH and SPOT checks are being made more often and the range is increased from 5 ft to 10 ft

you're sure? I spent a lot of time combing various places for information before I posted and finding nothing, I posted what I did from memory. I would appreciate a quote, link, page number or something, er sorry, scholarly side of me for asking such a question.

Jordicus · Post by **Jordicus** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 3:36 pm

range difference of 5ft and 10ft is right out of both the NWN Manual.. (page 82 NWN Manual)

the time difference is implied and has been discussed in many threads on the BioBoards..

i'll post more info when i find it..

Cath · Post by **Cath** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 3:43 pm

I think it says so if you read the in game description of the skill.

The one you get when you click on the skill while looking at your character sheet.

Can be wrong though

'edit - yep I was...it says that you roll once per round if you aren't in detect mode but only that you are actively searching when you are..no numbers...but I've seen it somewhere..*sigh*

Vergilius · Post by **Vergilius** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 1:39 am

Jordicus wrote:range difference of 5ft and 10ft is right out of both the NWN Manual.. (page 82 NWN Manual)

the time difference is implied and has been discussed in many threads on the BioBoards..

i'll post more info when i find it..

ok, the 5ft vs 10ft range would be how search works and seeing how that information isn't specified under spot/listen, I would assume they would work differently as I can sure as hell spot/hear things further away than 5 or 10ft. I remember reading somewhere, I cannot find it now, that the modifier was halved outside of detect mode. I tried a search on the bioboards but found nothing on the topic of how spot/listen detect mode operate.

Jordicus · Post by **Jordicus** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 2:05 am

ok.. what I found...

it specifically states in the NWN Grimoire that Passive Detect mode automatically happens once per Round. i am positive I read that in another place as well, but I can't find the same statement in the NWN manual. it had to come from somwhere though.

both the Manual and the Grimoire state that Active Detect mode makes the character perform active Search, Listen & Spot checks. (pg 76)

i'll see if I can find the threads on the Bioboards where I read some stuff

Scurvy_Platypus · Post by **Scurvy_Platypus** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 6:06 am

Since this is a thread about the rule of how Invisibility is percieved, can we take the discussion of the mechanics of how hiding and the engine does it to another thread?

While interesting and useful it's a bit of a thread jack of the rules. Thank you.

Vergilius · Post by **Vergilius** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 7:03 am

SP

I have no problem if a person with moderator powers excises the derailment and moves it to the general discussion. I've seen it happen with other threads, and frankly I agree with you, discussion should occur in the discussion threads.

V

Scurvy_Platypus · Post by **Scurvy_Platypus** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 7:26 am

Have split the discussion and moved it here. Carry on folks.